Display system capable of selective annotation

ABSTRACT

A display system for information, the system having a photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich image storage device for receiving an initial piece of information and being capable of selective annotation. The annotation may be accomplished by utilizing a source of imaging radiation independent of the radiation source used for imaging the initial piece of information so as to superimpose an additional image signal to the initial piece of information or, alternatively, activating a segment of the photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich to alter the portion of the image in that particular segment.

39764121 Morse et a].

[ DISPLAY SYSTEM CAPABLE OF SELECTIVE ANNOTATION [75] inventors: John Edwin Morse, Penfield; Claire Llewellyn James, Pittsford, both of N .Y.

I73] Assignec: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 25, I972 [2i] Appl. No.: 283,891

[52] U.S. Cl. SSS/7i, 250/2l3 R, 355/20, 355/52 [5 1] Int. Cl. G03!) 27/76 [58] Field of Search 355/20, 52, 71, 80; 350/160 LC; 250/2l3 R; 353/20, 21

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,576,364 4/l97l Zanoni 350/160 LC 3,592,527 7/l97i Conner: 350/l60 LC 3,4l0,999 H963 Fergason 350/l60 LC Primary Examiner-Monroe H. Hayes Attorney-W. H. J. Kline et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A display system for information, the system having a photoconductor-iiquid erystal sandwich image storage device for receiving an initial piece of information and being capable of selective annotation. The annotation may be accomplished by utilizing a source of imaging radiation independent of the radiation source used for imaging the initial piece of information so as to superimpose an additional image signal to the initial piece of information or, alternatively, activating a segment of the photoconductor-iiquid crystal sandwich to alter the portion of the image in that particular segment.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,764,211 1 2 DlSPLAY SYSTEM CAPABLE OF SELEC'HVEI bination with a photocondoctor material. A sandwich ANNOTATEON was formed of a first transparent electrode, a layer of CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLlCATlONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the invention This invention relates to display systems and more particularly to information display systems utilizing photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich intermediate image storage devices having the capability of being selectivcly annotated.

2. Description of the Prior Art The field of visual display has recently seen marked advance due primarily to the technological developments with regard to the use of liquid crystals. Liquid crystals are substances which, within a particular temperature range, can attan a mescrnorphic state between an isotropic liquid and a solid crystal. Liquid crystals have been known since the late lSOO's and it was recognized very early that these substances display rheological properties similar to that of fluids while exhibiting optical properties similar to that of materials in the crystalline state. However, it has only been within the last decade that practical use of the liquid crystal for image storage and display has been attained.

in July i968 in the "Proceedings of the IEEE." an article entitled "Dynamic Scattering: A New Electro- Optical Effect in Certain Classes of Ncmatic Liquid Crystals" by Heilmcicr. Zanoni and Barton. at pp. ll62-ll7l, noted that when a dc electric field is placed across a nematic liquid crystal, the molecules thcrcol become disoriented so that the material diffuses light and becomes milky white in appearance. When the field is removed, the molecules of the liquid crystal return to their previous orientation so that the liquid is again transparent. in an article entitled A New Electric Field Controlled Reflective Optical Storage Effect in Mixed Liquid Crystal Systems" by Helli-ncier and Goldmacher in the Aug. l5, i968 Applied Physics Letters" at pp U2 and U3, there was described a liquid crystal system which was comprised of a mixture cinematic liquid crystal substance and a cho lesterlc liquid crystals substance. The described system exhibited the property of changing from initially trans I parent to a milky white light diffusing condition upon the application ol'a do. or low frequency ac. electrical lield; however, on the removalof the field. the liquid crystal remained in the light diffusing state and main rained this condition until erased or changed back to the transparent state by application ota high frequency ac. signal. V p My" U l in us. Pat. Nos. 3,592,521 nd 310mm; and in US. Pat. application so. No; H.959 and No. 81,960 as well as at pages 5 l-S3 of the July l5. i970 edition of"Applied Physics Letters in an article entitled fiteversible Ultraviolet imaging with Liquid Crystals by .l. S. Margeruin; I. Nlm'oy and S. Y. Wong, is further edvahcement in the use of liquid crystal materials was de scribed. The liquid crystal substance was me to emit photoconductor material, a layer of liquid crystal material and a second transparent electrode. An electric field applied across the electrodes and a light radiation pattern desired to be dispiayed was projected onto the photoconductor material through the first electrode rendering the photocondoctor material conductive in the areas exposed to the adiation pattern. Theconductivity pattern in the photocczaductur material permitted a current flow between the electrodes which generated a change in the degree oi transparency of the liquid crystal layer to form an img: corresponding to the radiation pattern striking the photoconductor material. The image formed in a lirgsid crystal layer could then be viewed through the sccoad electrode by ambient or artificial light reflected from a specular mosaic or an opaque coating between the photoconductor layer and the liquid crystallaycr (as described in the aforementioned patents) or by projection of the image by alight source through the photocc-oductor-liquid crystal sandwich (as described in the aforementioned U.S. patent applications)v With the use of the a'oosedescribed principles. it is possible in many different applications to provide for the storage of an erasable image which may be displayed lor use in some manaer according to the particular end result desired. it. however. the image is in some way defective or needs to be updated before final display or projection, it has been necessary to completely erase the image and rcimage the photoconductor-liquid crys al sandwich with the proper desired image.

SUMMARY OF THE ENVENTl-JN in view of the foregoing. it is an object of this invention to provide a system for displaying information. the system having the capability of being selectively annotated.

A further object is to protfie an information display system having an erasable ie'zge storage device for receiving an initial piece of Er -formation. the storage device being capable of having selective changes made in the image stored therein.

in accordance with the above objects there is herein provided a system for information display. the display system having a photcscondcctor-liquid crystal sandwlch image storing device for receiving an initial piece v of information and being capable of selective annotm tlon. The annotation may be accomplished by utilizing a source of imaging r'adian on independent of the source for imaging the initial piece of information on lhc image storage device to saperimpose an additional signal onto the initial piece oi'izrformntlon. or alternatlvcly, activating a segment of the photoconductorliquid crystal sandwich to alter the portion of the image in the: segment.

BRlEF oescararror: or rue onswinos FIG. 1 n a schematic view cdtlte mnrrmnsn display system of this invention utilirieg an independent radio ilon source for annotaaen of the image stored in the photoconduc'tor-liquid crystal sandwich;

H0. 2 is a schematic view c'an elternaii've embodiment of the information disp ay systern accoiding' to thls invention utilizing a segmen ed photoconductor liquid crystal sandwich image stored device.

no. 3 u a perspective View with a ponies Broken alive of the segmented photccondectoflllquid crystal I we, m -a c sandwich image storage device of FIG. 2, the potential supply and switch means therefor being schematically shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBGDIMENT Referring now to the drawings, FlG. I shows one em' bodimcnt of an information display system it) having a mounting means, such as a transparency holder l2 for holding a transparency 14 containing an initial piece of information desired to be displayed. The mounting means i2 is positioned in the projenion pail: of a pr jecting lamp to which has a condenser lens 18 for directing the illuminating radiation of the lamp through the transparency l4, relay objective 20 and movable mirror or beam splitter 22 so as to project a radiation pattern representative of the image in the transparency 14 onto an image storage device such as the photoconductordiquid crystal sandwich 24. The photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich 24 is fully described in aforementioned U.S. Pat. application Scr. No. 8l,959 and 81,960 and is described herein only in such detail so as to permit a complete understanding of this invention.

The photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich 24 is comprised of a first transparent electrode 26 and a second transparent electrode 28, between which, in contiguous relationship, there is a layer of transparent photoconductor material 30 and liquid crystal material 32. The liquid crystal material 32 is comprised ofa mixture of nematic liquid crystal substance and cholcstcric liquid crystal substance in order to enable the sandwich 26 to be used in a storage mode in a manner to be CI- pluincd hcreinbelow. Connected to the transparent electrode 26 through an appropriate conductor is a d.e. potential source 35 and an are potential source 38. A switch is connected to the transparent electrode 28, the switch 40 being positionable to a neutral position or to contact terminals 42 or M, the terminals 52 and M being connected respectively to the d.e. potential 36 and the a.c. potential 38.

When the image of the piece of information such as transparency to is pro ected onto the photoconductorliquid crystal sandwich 24 the switch 40 is moved to contact terminal 42 to permit application of u d.e. potential from the d.e. potential source 36 across the electrodes 26 and 28. The radiation pattern representative of the mage of the transparency 14 will strike the pholoconductor material 3!] and cause the material to hecome conductive in a pattern corresponding to the imposed radiation pattern. The increased conductivity will result in a corresponding current flow through the liquid crystal material 32 causing the material to become diffuse in a pattern representative of the imposed image pattern. The switch 40 may then be placed in its intermediate neutial position in which no potential is; applied between the electrodes 26 and 28 and because ofthe storage nature ol'the particular liquid crystal inaler ul mixture the diffuse image formed therein will remtlzl't. v V I Ahnotallon oi the image of lhe slide l4 formed in the sandwich 24 is accomplished by independent movable radiation source $45 which may be a cathode ray tube, laser source, oi some similar radiation signal device. to which the sandwich fi l is sensitive. The beam tltcreol' is transmitted through the relay tel: 68 onto the mlrrpr it where it u redirected to the are: of the sandwich 24 in which annotation is desired. The switch 40 will be repositioned to contact terminal 42 so that the d.e. potential is again applied across the electrodes 26 and 28. Thus, when radiation from the source 46 strikes the photoconductor material 3B, the material will become conductive in that area to effect a positive change in the current flowing in the corresponding area of thc' liquid crystal material 32 to locally add diffuse areas to the image stored therein. The diffuse image originally formed on the liquid crystal material 32 is not affected by the reapplication of the d.e. potential and is only affected to the extent at the annotation by the independent radiation source 46.

When annotat on is completed, the independent source 46 will br turned off. switch 40 will be placed once again in its intermediate position and the projection lamp 16 may be turned on (slide l4 being removed from the optical patio) to project the annotated image in the photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich image storage device 24 through the field lens 50 and objective lens 52 onto a receiving station such as a viewing screen 54. After the projection of the annotated image for any desired purpose, the switch 40 may be moved from its intermediate position to contact terminal 44 in order to apply the ac potential from the source 38 across the electrodes 26 and 28 to erase the image stored in the liquid crystal material 32 to clear the material and prepare the sandwich 24 for receivinga new initial piece of information to be displayed.

Fit). 2 shows a second embodiment of an information display system 10 according to this invention. in the system it), a movable radiation source 56 emits a radiation beam which is transmitted by means of the relay lens 58 and dichroic mirror 64) onto an image storage device such as the photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich 62. As with the radiation source 46 of FIG. l. the radiation source 56 may be a cathode ray tube. a laser source, or any other beam emitting radiation source to which the photocondcctor-liquid crystal sandwich 62 is sensitive. The dichrosc mirror 60 may, in a manner sirn ilar to mirror 22. be a movable mirror or any type r:- llcctive device which may be selectively removed from the optical path.

The photoconducte-r-liquid crystal sandwich 62 operales in the same manner as the sandwich 24 of the arrangernent 10 of H6. 1 but differs in construction (see PM. 3) so that the function of annotation is somewhat different. in contrcction of the sandwich 62. transparcnt electrodes 68 and 86 are segtr. :nted into elements 64a, 64b, 64c and 56:, 66b, 66: respectively with the segments of one electrode being transversely oriented to segments of the other electrode. The photoconductor material 68 and the liquid crystal material 70 are placed as unitary layers in contiguous relationship between thctrnnsparcnt electrodes 64, 66;

in order to selectively supply a potential across the transparent electrodes 64 and till, a power supply inrangemcnt 72 is provided. The power supply nrraitg'ement 72 includes a d.e. potential source 74 connected between terminals 76 and 78, and an the. potential source 88 connected between terminals 82 and 78. potential selection switch 84 is provided to selectively contact terminals 76 or 82 to select either the d.e. or

d.e. potential source for application across llt transparent electrodes 64 and 66. In mm to provide sppll cation of the selected potential source across partlcula'r areas of the phoioeonduc'to'r-llquld crystal sandwich 62,- scgment selector switches 86 and 88 are included in the power supply arrangement 72. The switch 86 may be selectively positioned to contact tri-terminal 90 or terminals 90a, 905 or 990. The tri-terrninal 90 permits power to be supplied to the entire surface of the transparent electrode 64 while terminals 90a, 90b and 90c are respectively connected to the transparent electrodc segments 64a, 64b and 64 c. In a similar manner, the switch 88 may be selectively positioned to contact tri-terminal 92 or terminals 92a, 92b or 92c. The triterminal 92 permits power to be supplied to the entire transparent electrode 66 while terminals 92a, 92b and 92c are connected to the transparent electrode segments 66a, 66b and 65: respectively.

By directing switches 86 and 83 to particular termirials, the desired area of the sandwich 62 to be activated may be selected. As illustratively shown in H0. 3, the switch 86 is positioned to contact terminal 90a while the switch 88 is positioned to contact terminal 92b. With the potential selection switch 84 contacting terminal 76 to permit application of a dc potential from source 74, the shown positioning of switches 86 and 88 will connect the dc. potential to transparent electrode segments 64:: and 66b. Since the upper ccn ter portion of the sandwich 62 is the only area in which the electrode segments 64a and 66b overlap, a potential may exist across the electrodes 64 and 66 only in this area; thus, this area will be activated while all other areas of the sandwich 62 will remain in the condition prior to application of the potential. That is to say, any image stored in the sandwich 62 ill retain its appearance except for the upper center area of the sandwich which may be annotated er rcimagcd (by first application of the erasing ac potential and then application of the dc. potential) to any particular desired configuration. lt is of course understood that the number of segments for the transparent electrodes 64'and 66 is dependent only upon the desired capability of annotation of the sandwich 62 and is no way limited to the specific configuration shown in FIG. 3.

As is the procedure with regard to the embodiment of FlG. an initial piece of intormation is placed on the sandwich 62. This is accomplished by positioning the segment selector switches 35 and 88 to contact tritcrmlnait 90 and 92 respectively to permit a selected potential to be applied across the cnlirc area of the electrodes 64. 56. The potential selection switch 84 is positioned to contact terminal 7 6 to apply a dc. poten' tial from d.c. potential source 74 across the electrodes 6 3, 66. A radiation pattern representative of the initial piece of information may then be prolected onto the sandwich 62 by the movable radiation source 56 to form a corresponding image on the sandwich 62 representatlve oi the desired initial piece of information.

With the initial piece of information thus formed, the switch 84 is moved to its neutral position to cease sppli cation of the potential across the electrodes 64, 66 and because of the composition of the liquid crystal the image will be stored therein. Anhotatlon may then be accomplished by activating any desired area of the sandwich 62 Willie d.c. potential in the manner dc scribed above and reforming the recorded radlatioii pattern in that area by applying the radiation source 56 lo azld in or completely reimagc the information conlalncd in the specified area. t p

Arm (he initial piece ot'ini'oi'iiiallon this been formed 'oil are photocondiicto'rdiquld crystal sandwich '62 by the movable radiation source 56 and any annotation necessary thereto has been accomplished. the switch 84 will be moved to an intermediate position between terminals 76 and 82 so that potential sepply'between the electrodes 64 and 66 will be removed. As noted above, the liquid crystal material 68 is of a storage mix composition which wifi retain the image formed in the liquid crystal layer until an ac. potential is applied thereacross to erase the formed image. The image stored within the sandwich 62 may be projected by a projection lamp 94 which is directed through the dichroic mirror 60 and the sandwich 62 to a field lens 96 and an objective lens 93 so as to form an image representative oi the annotated image stored in the sandwich 62 on a screen I80. it is understood that it the lamp 94 is to remain on. when a dichroic mirror is used the radiation emitted by lamp #4 cannot be within the sensitivity range of the image storage device 62; however, when a movable mirror is used the radiation from lamp 94 may be within the sensitivity range of the device 62.

The annotated image received at the screen 100 may be observed for any pardcular purpose or may be selectively printed by moving a movable mirror 102 into the projection path (as shown in broken lines) so as to rel'lect the formed image onto a print platen 164 for printing in any particiznr manner (not forming part of this invention). it is ol'conrse understood that the printing of the projected image could similarly be accomplished in the embodiment of FIG. 1; After viewing or printing is completed, the switch 84 may be positioned to contact terminal 62 and switches 86 and 83 positioned to contact tritcm'nals 99 and 92 respectively so that the erasing are. potential from the potential source may be applied across the entire electrodes 64 and 66 to return the liquid crystal material 68 to its clear state to ready the sandwich 62 to receive any desired new piece of information.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that there is herein provided a novel display system for prcscnfih'; information, the display system having the capability at being selectively annotated to correct or update. the information to be displqied. The display system has photocondector-liquid c ystal sandwich image storage device for receiving an initial piece oi'lnl'ormatlon. The annotation may be accomplished by utilizing; a source of imaging radiation independent from the source for imaging the initial piece of information on the sandwlch to supcrimposc an additional image signal to the initial piece of lni'ormrion; or in an alternative cmbodirncnt, activating a segment of the photoconducto rliquid crystal sandwich to alter the portiott'of the image in that segment. y p

The invention has been described in detail with 'rct'crcnce to preferred cmbccfimcnts thereof, but it will as tmdcrstood that varistioc: and modifications can be clfectcd within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: v I; An informational display system comprlsliifi: an image storage device for recording and storing nil image patrerst of an initial piece of information, said image storage device including a photocell 'r'uc'tooliquid crystal sandwich and means to apply a potential across sa d sandwich in order to permit said sandwich in record the image thelciin; means for projecting est image radiation pattern of as initial piece of information onto said image storage device;

means for activating said potential across said photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich to store said image of said initial piece of information therein;

means for altering at least a portion of said image of said initial piece of information stored on said image storage device; and

means for transmitting said altered stored image from said image storage device to a receiving station.

2.. The apparatus of claim I wherein said initial piece of information is a transparency and wherein said means for projecting said image of said initial piece of information comprises a transparency holder for supporting said transparency, a projection radiation source to which the image storage device is responsive, a condenser lens between said projection radiation source and said transparency for directing radiation from said source through said transparency. a relay objective between said transparency holder and said image storage device for directing the radiation through said transparency to said image storage device in a radiation pattern representative of the image of said transparency.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for altering at least a portion of said image of said initial piece of information stored on said image storage device includes a second source of radiation to which the image storage device is responsive and means for selectiw; iy directing radiation from said second source onto said image storage device to alter the image stored therein.

4. The apparatus of claim l wherein said means t'or projecting said image of said initial piece of information is a source oi" radiation to which said image storage device is responsive and means for directing radiation from said source onto said image storage device in a pattern representati'se of said initial piece of informa: tion.

5. The apparatus eiclaim 4 wherein said means for altering at least a portion of said image of said initial piece of informative stored on said image storage device includes means r ot selectively activating a portion of said image storage device so that radiation directed onto said image storage device will affect only that portion selectively actiia'ted.

6. The apparatus eiclaim 4 wherein said photocondoctor-liquid crysta; sandwich includes a segmented first transparent elecerode. a layer of photoconductor material in continuous relationship with said first electrotle, a layer of liqe d crystal material in contiguous relationship with layer of photoconductor material, and a segmented second transparent electrode in contiguous relationsh'p with said layer of liquid crystal material, the segments of said second transparent electrode being ltEflSVtFi-Ei) oriented to said segments of said first transparent eiectrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means to apply a potential across said sandwich includes an a.c. potential source coawcted to a first and second terminal, a d.c. potent al source connected to said first terminal and a third terminal, a potential selection switch being selectively posionable to contact said second terminal or said third terminal to select either the ac potential or do. potential respectively or an intermediate neutral positionw a first segment selector switch means for connecting said first terminal to a desired segment of said first transparent electrode. and a second segment seiectorswitch means connecting said potential selection switci: to a desired segment ofsaid secand transparent electrode.

O I O C 

1. An informational display system comprising: an image storage device for recording and storing an image pattern of an initial piece of information, said image storage device including a photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich and means to apply a potential across said sandwich in order to permit said sandwich to record the image therein; means for projecting an image radiation pattern of an initial piece of information onto said image storage device; means for activating said potential across said photoconductorliquid crystal sandwich to store said image of said initial piece of information therein; means for altering at least a portion of said image of said initial piece of information stored on said image storage device; and means for transmitting said altered stored image from said image storage device to a receiving station.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said initial piece of information is a transparency and wherein said means for projecting said image of said initial piece of information comprises a transparency holder for supporting said transparency, a projection radiation source to which the image storage device is responsive, a condenser lens between said projection radiation source and said transparency for directing radiation from said source through said transparency, a relay objective between said transparency holder and said image storage device for directing the radiation through said transparency to said image storage device in a radiation pattern representative of the image of said transparency.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for altering at least a portion of said image of said initial piece of information stored on said image storage device includes a second source of radiation to which the image storage device is responsive and means for selectively directing radiation from said second source onto said image storage device to alter the image stored therein.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for projecting said image of said initial piece of information is a source of radiation to which said image storage device is responsive and means for directing radiation from said source onto said image storage device in a pattern representative of said initial piece of information.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for altering at least a portion of said image of said initial piece of information stored on said image storage device includes means for selectively activating A portion of said image storage device so that radiation directed onto said image storage device will affect only that portion selectively activated.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said photoconductor-liquid crystal sandwich includes a segmented first transparent electrode, a layer of photoconductor material in contiguous relationship with said first electrode, a layer of liquid crystal material in contiguous relationship with said layer of photoconductor material, and a segmented second transparent electrode in contiguous relationship with said layer of liquid crystal material, the segments of said second transparent electrode being transversely oriented to said segments of said first transparent electrode.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means to apply a potential across said sandwich includes an a.c. potential source connected to a first and second terminal, a d.c. potential source connected to said first terminal and a third terminal, a potential selection switch being selectively positionable to contact said second terminal or said third terminal to select either the a.c. potential or d.c. potential respectively or an intermediate neutral position, a first segment selector switch means for connecting said first terminal to a desired segment of said first transparent electrode, and a second segment selector switch means connecting said potential selection switch to a desired segment of said second transparent electrode. 